Improvement in processes and apparatus for the manufacture of charbon-roux



G. L. HARRISON. ir.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR CHARBON ROUX.

'UNrrED STATES GEORGE L. HARRISON, JR., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNOR I PATENT OFFICE TO HARRISON BROS. 8c OO., OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROCESSES AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OFCHARBON-ROUX.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 184,963, dated December5, 18.76; application tiled .March L9, 1876.

To all whom it may concern: y

Be it known that I, GEORGE LEIB HARRI- SON, Jr., of lthe city and'county of Philadelphia, 'in the State of Pennsylvania, have in vented anew and useful Process for the Manufacture of the Fuel known asOharbon-RouX,77 and apparatus for giving effect tothe same, of which thefollowing specification is hereby declared by me to be a full, clear,and precise description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, which forms part of the specification, both the figures ofwhich represent, in section, a convenient form of apparatus for givingeect to my process- Figure l hein g a transverse central sectionalelevation, and Fig. 2 a similar longitudinal view.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both thefigures.

My invention relates to the manufacture of the French fuel orkindling-woodl known as charbon-roux, which consists of wood darkenedand browned throughout its fiber by the application of heat to an extentstopping short of carbonization; and consists in subjecting sticks ofwood, cut up to suitable size, in a perforated cage or chamber,continuously or intermittently rotated, to the action of heat radiatedupon the cage from a circui'nscribing chamber and furnace; and, further,consists in the apparatus for effecting the same, hereinafter describedand claimed.

For the better information of the public, l

will describe in detail the construction of. forms of my inventionobviating the existingdefects.

A is a cylindrical or other shaped chamber, supported and tixed uponrests B within, or itself' huilt into, an inclosing brick or otherfurnace, C, in such manner as to. leave a free space for flame allaround its sides and top. It is closed up upon its outer end by amovable but close-fitting head-plate, D, provided with an eye, E, formanipulation by a crane, and a small central trap and door, F, for thepassage of the shaft'of a crank, M. G is an escape-pipe, for the exit ofthe aceticacid vapor and hydrocarbon gases evolved from the charge. 'His the fire-pot of the furnace; I a J, the ash-pit, and K the stack.

bridge-wall;

Within the chamber A, and resting upon friction-rollers N therein,is arotatable perforated cage, L, provided also with a removable headplate,the axis of which is concentric with that of the trap F, and which isprovided with a boss, cubically recessed to receive the squaredextremity of the crank-shaft for the rotation of the cage.

The cage may be provided inside with ledges or diaphragms for theagitation of the charge, and the rollers N may be eccentric, or othermechanism may be employed to oscillate, vibrate, or otherwise agitate orshake the cage itself; and convenient mechanism to rotate may take theplace of the crank.

Such being the construction of my appara.- tus, the charbon-roux isproduced by removing and charging the cage with sticks of wood,replacing it to be subjected to the action of radiated heat from thechamber A, which can be made red-hot by the direct action of the ameupon it, and rotating it continuously or at'intervals.

As a modified form of the above, enabling me to dispense altogether withthe circumscribing chamber A, l employ a rotating chamber alone,supported and rotated by any fit means, and perforated, as mostconvenient, for the escaping vapor and gases, the perforation heilig, inetfcct, secured by a loose-fitting head-plate., a hollow trunnion, orthe like.

The position ot' my whole apparatus may, with proper mechanicalmodifications, he changed from horizontal to vertical wit-hout alteringthe material character of my invention, of which rotation or agitation,as opposed to rest, are the vital constituents.v

The advantages are the readinessand ease of charging and uncharging byremoval of the cage or rotating chamber; the thorough agi` tation oftheentire charge by rotation, which the shrinkage of the sticks permits,even though the cage or rotating chamber he at rst packed absolutelyfull, insuring even and complete browning of the whole, and an absoluteavoidance of top layers of charcoal; and, nally, the great capacity ofthe apparatus, readily yielding, as it does, four charges ofcharbonrouxin twenty-four hours.

Heretofore charbon-roux has been manufactured by heating billets of woodin stationary retorts or chambers; butit has practically been foundimpossible to obtain in this Way a uniform product. The billets nearestthe Walls of' the retort were converted into charcoal, While those inthe center were but very slightly scorched. By my process this diicultyis obviated, and a uniform product is obtained.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States- 1. The process of makingcharbon'roux herein described, which consists in subjecting billets ofwood to heat under agitation, substan tially as described.

2. The combination of the furnace C, retort A, and revolving cage L,substantially as described.

3. `The combination o'f' the retort A, having removable bead-plate D,and pipe G, with the revolving cage L and furnace C, substantially asdescribed. l

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

eno. L. HARRISON, JR.

In presence ot'- J. BoNsALL TAYLOR, JOHN J oLLEY.

